New Nike Kobe Protro References One of Basketball’s Biggest ‘What If?’ Moments

A Nike Kobe Bryant sneaker referencing how the NBA legend’s career could have panned out will receive the Protro treatment in 2025. Although Bryant spent the entirety of his 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, things almost turned out differently. Ahead of the 1996 NBA draft, the Lakers plotted to acquire the then-high schooler Bryant by using center Vlade Divac as a bargaining chip. The Lakers were able to persuade the Charlotte Hornets to give up their No. 13 draft pick for Divac, instructing the Hornets to select Bryant. Days later, the plan was nearly thwarted when Divac threatened to retire from the league instead of joining Charlotte. It’s said that if Divac followed through with retirement, the Hornets would have kept Bryant on their roster but ultimately, the Lakers’ strategy prevailed — and they even ended up with enough salary space to acquire legend Shaquille O’Neal that same summer. Nike Kobe 5 Protro ‘Draft Day’ 2025. Credit: @idontsellshoes The “what if” moment went down in hoops history and Nike turned it into a recurring theme on Bryant’s sneakers. First seen on the Kobe 4 in 2009, the Hornets colors appeared on the Kobe 5 in 2010 and would later be

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